The architectural elegance of this 18th-century mansion needs little embellishment. Wide cloistered walkways under heavy beamed ceilings lead to arched stone doorways. Wood, stone and steel mix easily with the terracotta-washed walls and the feel is uncluttered and airy, with a sense of timeless calm. Big wicker sofas are scattered about, primed for a day of relaxation. Lie by the pool and take the sun or walk down to the sea and bathe in volcanic rock pools. Potter back for a cup of Earl Grey on the roof terrace or grab a video from reception and head to your room. The 20 rooms are strikingly simple. You’ll find Rennie Macintosh and Mies van der Rohe chairs, Spanish modern art, super-comfortable beds and all the 21st-century gadgets you could want. Candlelit dinners by the pool offer some of the best cuisine on the island; breakfasts won't disappoint either. The kindest staff add the final touch. Perfect.
Highs
- The exquisite traditional architecture is combined with delicate modern décor
- We found the food to be outstanding - modern and inventive, a real rarity in the Canaries
- Set in a cloistered courtyard, the swimming pool is lamp-lit at night and heated in the cooler months
- The great staff are helpful and unobtrusive; they park your car, remember your favourite wine and do an impeccable turndown service
- This is ideal for those looking to discover the real Tenerife; the north west is a world apart from the built-up resorts on the south of the island, and pretty Garachico is a true gem
Lows
- You'll need a hire car to get down here, but this is easily arranged either through the hotel or other companies on the island
- The good white-sand beaches are on the other side of the island, putting them out of range, though there are some lovely black-sand beaches within striking distance
- North Tenerife is cooler and cloudier than the south, but this also makes it more lush and green - and less crowded
- You may find the air-con a little underpowered in summer, and the rooms are a little on the dark side due to the courtyard layout
- Coffee is from a machine, and some recent guests have been underwhelmed by the food
Best time to go
Our top tips
For faded colonial grandeur, stroll through La Orotava, stopping off to eat ice cream in the Botanic Gardens and buy quirky local souvenirs (lava jewellery, jars of mojo) in the handsome wooden-galleried townhouses.
- Boutique Hotel
- 20 rooms
- Restaurant and bar
- Over 14s only
- Open all year
- Heated Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Tennis Court
- Bicycles Available
Rooms
The same effortless style hangs over every square inch of San Roque and the bedrooms are no different, with an easy grace begat from uncluttered décor. Creamy linen curtains hang in front of big wooden window frames, thick rugs cover reddish wooden floors, and contemporary art hangs on colourful walls. There are exposed timber ceilings, contemporary lighting and glass tables. Best of all is the hotel’s collection of Art Nouveau and Bauhaus chairs, many of which are scattered throughout the rooms. You get hand-crafted Macintosh high backs and low-slung Cabonier cow hides. Bathrooms feature Jacuzzi baths, power showers, robes, slippers, and all the bits and bobs.
Rooms come in different colours (greens, blues, reds and yellows); all have plasma TVs and DVD players. Standard Rooms are fine, but lack any sofas or armchairs. Duplex Rooms are larger but some are rather dark. You get a proper sitting room with a sofa and armchair, then a staircase that leads up to a big, galleried sleeping area. Junior Suites and Suites are exceptional - we particularly loved #110, a bright Junior Suite with velours Bibendum chairs and a circular Jacuzzi in the corner. The Tower Suite is spread over 3 floors, with a bedroom, a sitting room and a private roof terrace (the highest point of the hotel). In the bedroom, 4 walls have a window each, giving huge views north, south, east and west (or sea, mountain, banana plantation and town).
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Bathrobes
- Central heating
- Coffee / tea making
- DVD player
- Hairdryer
- In-room treatments available
- Minibar
- Radio
- Safe box
- Toiletries
- TV
- WiFi
Eating
The dining room is tiny because no-one ever uses it; instead, you eat around the cloistered pool. Breakfast is served until 11am, so there’s no need to dive out of bed first thing. There's freshly-squeezed OJ, pastries, fruit and yoghurts, lots of cold meats and cheeses, and hot food cooked to order.
Dinner around the lantern-lit pool is the real highlight. Danish chef Danny Nielsen concocts a delicate mix of "local specialities and other ingredients I love" - perhaps bream with red tomato pesto and caramelised almonds, or juicy beef tenderloin with Stilton-infused mash. Desserts include a light-as-cloud white chocolate mousse and strawberry soup with mascarpone ice cream, all of which make a refreshing change from the typical Canarian cream-and-sugar bombs.
An extensive snack menu (salads, pasta, tapas) is available throughout the day, and if you want a drink, staff will serve you wherever you are - there's actually a wireless water call button on each table around the hotel! Choose to drink in the bar located in the sitting room/library, which has a table given over to a wonderful collection of brandies, whiskies and unmarked bottles with stoppers in them.
If you want to eat out (we did, once, and felt there was little to be gained), manager Dominique will happily advise. He knows the island like the back of his hand, and its restaurants even better. There are a couple of options in town, or more if you're willing to drive.
Features include:
- Bar
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Vegetarian options
Activities
- Explore the town's cobbled streets. Don’t miss the town square, Glorieta de San Francisco, or the tiny but wonderful gardens in Plaza de Juan Gonzales de La Torre
- Head down to the seafront and you'll find a number of volcanic rock pools
- Travel into the mountains to El Tanque and stretch your legs in one of 3 nature reserves: the Teno Rural Park, the Forest Crown Nature Park and the Chinyero Special Nature Reserve
- Do a tour around the volcano. There’s a lookout halfway along, where you can gaze out from the top of the mountain all the way down to the coast. There’s also a good restaurant
- Head to the western tip of the island for an 1883 lighthouse, volcanic bays, dreamy colours and spectacular views down the coast to the cliffs of Los Gigantes. There’s great hiking here, too
- Golfers will be in heaven down at Buenavista, a course designed by Seve Ballasteros. Seven of the holes run along the ocean (a magnet to most golf balls). It’s a great day out and the hotel can arrange a tee-off time for you - see Rates
- Head up to Santa Cruz, the island's capital. You'll find fancy shops, big churches, a whiff of history, a top-flight Spanish football team and an exceptional concert hall with a resident orchestra (the hotel can arrange tickets)
- The hotel has mountain bikes that you’re welcome to borrow, as well as tennis rackets and fishing rods - if you catch something edible and ask nicely, they’ll probably cook it for you for supper
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Golf
- Hiking
- Historical sites
- Horse riding
- Sailing
- Shopping / markets
- Swimming
- Tennis
Kids
This is a grown up hotel, only teenagers 14 years old and over are accepted
Best for:
Teens (over 12)
Family friendly accommodation:
Duplexes work well, as they have a double sofabed (quite narrow, so best for just 1 teen) - we liked the fact that they made it up as a sofa each morning and re-made the bed at turndown each evening. If you have 2 teens, one duplex suite can take 2 extra single beds
Extra Beds Available
Kids Activities nearby:
At the Cesar Manrique water park in Puerto de la Cruz, the main town on the north coast, you'll find huge azure pools (n.b. not heated in winter), some with waterfalls and volcanic islets: teens can splash around while you devour novels or cold drinks on a sunlounger. The much-advertised Loroparque zoo is also a good option for cooler days, but arrive early to justify the steep entry fee
Families Should Know:
There are precious artworks and valuable pieces of furniture
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Hotel San Roque is situated in the historic town of Garachico on the north coast of Tenerife.
By Air:
Tenerife North (51km) is the nearest airport, mainly used for domestic flights. Tenerife's main international airport, Tenerife South, is 76km away via the slow western road, or 115km by the eastern motorway (which is probably faster).
From the Airport
You can get a taxi to the hotel but we'd suggest hiring a car so that you can explore the island at your leisure. Public transport links aren't very good.
By Car:
For car hire we please see our car rental recommendations. The hotel can also arrange car hire for you.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
Airports:
- Tenerife North (Los Rodeos) 51.0 km TFN
- Tenerife South (Reina Sofia) 76.0 km TFS
Other:
- Beach 8.0 km
- Shops 0.1 km
- Restaurant 0.1 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 4 independent reviews from i-escape guests